SONIC YOUTH – HIGH MESA
This is from the sessions for the Made in USA soundtrack, following the release of EVOL, which is one of my favorite records. Great moody, sprawling, open guitar jams that are surprisingly delicate and fragile considering the albums they were between (EVOL into Sister).

NONPAREILS – PRESS PLAY
Sounds like it’s balancing on one leg.

DALHOUS – METHODS OF ELAN
Really lonely and beautiful melodies. It’s like a sketch, but not incomplete in any way.

JUDY NYLON & CRUCIAL – LIVE IN A LIFT
Lots of attitude and expert production by Adrian Sherwood. It kind of sounds like it’s falling apart the whole time, which I love.

WHADYA WANT? – OPEN SPACES
Opening track on the Midnight Snares compilation from the excellent Efficient Space label. Buy all their releases—carefully compiled albums by gifted music listeners and appreciators.

JONI MITCHELL – THE JUNGLE LINE
So weird—my 5-year-old daughter loves this album and is so confused by this song. I love it.

PHEW – SIGNAL
Almost sounds like This Heat right? Can’s rhythm section is holding it all down. Repetitive and hypnotic, I always gravitate towards this mood.

VISION FORTUNE – DRY MOUTH
What happened to this band? Deconstructed and broken; very Liars-influenced, but charming enough to stand on its own. It does this thing I’m always trying to do with songs where you go into some unrelated part but have it make sense.

COCTEAU TWINS – FIFTY FIFTY CLOWN
Perfect song from a perfect album. I love reading about recording sessions and what was going on internally with bands while albums were being made. I love listening to this and thinking about all the paranoia and distrust that surrounded the sessions; the music is so dark but his a high gloss on it. That’s a pretty rare combo, even today.

MAXIMUM JOY – SIMMER TILL DONE
Love how this song stacks and builds.

ORIOR – LARBICO
This whole album is amazing. It’s so intimate and relaxed; it’s like being in the room with the composer. I think the guys from Demdike Stare tracked these tapes down and released it?